THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 



necessary or desirable, the editor and 

 subscribers of the Canadian paper 

 are all cordially invited to cooperate 

 with this Union." 



In order that the object of this en- 

 terprise be not defeated the organi- 

 zation must call into its ranks and on 

 the advisory board some of our most 

 prominent and successful honey 

 producers, as such ones are more 

 deeply interested in the success or 

 failure of this Union than any others. 



We trust that every individual aim 

 will be lost or forgotten in our en- 

 deavors to establish this enterprise. 

 It is a move in the right direction and 

 should receive the hearty endorse- 

 ment of the beekeepers. American 

 apiculture and the interests of Am- 

 erican beekeepers call for a thorough 

 systematic organization of some char- 

 acter and we care not on what founda- 

 tion it is built so long as it is conduct- 

 ed in the interests ot the majority. 



So long as it is properly conducted, 

 our services are subject to the will 

 and wishes of our brother beekeep- 

 ers and we are only too pleased to 

 be able to offer them. 



QUESTIONS AND ANSWEBS. 



For some time we have urged the 

 iiocesi^ity for more system ai)d union 

 in association work, a department of 

 apiculture which has been too much 

 neglected and made subservient to in- 

 dividual aims and personal gain. 



Just at present this lack of system 

 and proper organization of our forces 

 is becoming painfully evident and 

 there is now being organized a "Na- 

 tional Beekeepers' Union" which in our 

 own mind would have been unneces- 

 sary if we had a thoroughly organized 

 and properly conducted National Bee- 

 keepers Association. 



In order that we may learn the opin- 

 ions of those whose iutei'ests are most 

 likely to be involved (the honey 

 producers), we have decided to ask the 

 following questions trusting that each 

 one to whom these questions are sub- 

 mitted will answer them to the best 

 of his ability for the benefit of his 

 brother beekeepers. 



1. In your opinion what will be the 

 advantages or disadvantages occurring 

 to the honey producers from the pro- 

 posed National Beekeepers' Union? 



2. Do you think it best that its la- 

 bors should be confined to mere legal 

 questions and legal protection, or 

 should its province be broader and in- 

 clude the interests of beekeepers in ev- 

 ery branch and department of apicul- 

 ture? 



3. Could not a National Beekeepers' 

 Association be so organized and con- 

 ducted as to prove all that would be 

 needed and also prove even more ef- 

 fective and successful in its workings 

 and results than a Beekeepers' Union? 



4. What advice, if any, would you 

 ofler as to the proper organization of 

 such a union? 



AjSSWers by a. j. cook. 



1. The advantages will be the pro- 

 tection of a member who is involved in 

 a suit at law, in which we are all 

 equally interested. If properly con- 

 ducted I see no disadvantages. 



2. It seems to me that aside from 

 such cases as the one that called up the 

 present Union, our societies, state and 

 national, are better qualified to discuss 

 and settle important matters. 



3. Possibly so ; possibly not. Many 

 will join this Union, who will not at- 

 tend and possibly would not join the As- 

 sociation. I think quite likely a more 

 perfect organization would permit the 

 association to do this work. It is not 

 now organized for it, and so a new or- 

 ganization is called for. 



4 Unless the National Association 

 perfects its organization so as to do 

 such work better, I have no criticism 

 to offer on the present plan for a Union. 



ANSWERS BY L. C. ROOT. 



1. A National Beekeepers' Union 

 properly organized and conducted in 

 the best interests of beekeepers gen- 

 erally could not but result in good. 



2. If it is simply alone for the legal 

 protection of beekeepers I have some 

 doubts of the good results. Legal 

 points in such matters are usually agi- 

 tated to the harm of all interested. 



3. It matters little what the organ- 

 ization is called. If its aims are high 

 and unselfish its success is certain. 



4. I have but one suggestion to 

 make as to the organizing a society— 

 that is, to meet the demands. If it is 

 to be a success, its officers and founders 

 must be active, practical beekeepers ; 

 otherwise, it will not receive the con- 

 fidence of beekeepers generally. 



